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Capacity building for higher education institutions
Attention to learning and teaching (L&T) has increased in recent years, both at European higher education institutions (HEIs) and in European policy making. To enhance L&T, adequate staff development practices and approaches are needed, as well as recognition for teachers to continuously improve, through academic assessment and career paths. Across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the responsibility for organising staff development mostly lies with the institutions themselves.
Against this background, the ‘Staff development for learning and teaching at European universities’ (STAFF-DEV) project was launched in 2024. STAFF-DEV aims to analyse how staff development and academic assessment are conducted at European HEIs and to strengthen institutional capacity and strategies in this regard. Led by EUA in consortium with four universities from across Europe, the project is funded under the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission.
As part of its activities, STAFF-DEV offers a series of four masterclasses in 2025 and 2026, aimed at building and reinforcing HEIs’ capacity to offer insightful staff development opportunities, as well as embed it into a broader institutional framework for learning and teaching. Applications for the third masterclass are now open.
Concept and methodology
STAFF-DEV masterclasses invite the participants to disconnect from their daily work and usual environment, in a retreat-like activity. Each masterclass brings together a group of approx. 20 participants from different HEIs for a 2.5 day in-person event, hosted at one of the partner institutions.
Each event offers a mix of lectures by keynote speakers (researchers and highly recognised practitioners), and small group work with peers. Self-reflection is encouraged throughout the event. As an outcome, each participating institution will be asked to design a possible action plan for their institution, to be discussed and tested back home – building on takeaways from the masterclass.
In addition to the on-site event, the project partners will offer a follow-up online workshop, to be held about two months after each masterclass (dates will be coordinated with and communicated to the participants of each masterclass separately).
Masterclass 3 – Ruhr University Bochum
The third masterclass focuses on higher education didactic training programmes that are carried out jointly by universities across national borders.
This already takes place today, for example in the context of European Universities alliances, which often work closely together in the area of teaching and often have dedicated work packages for the development of joint training programmes.
Against the background of data collected under the STAFF-DEV project, the masterclass will identify the conditions for success for such cooperative continuing education programmes, and allow participants to exchange, reflect on and develop implementation scenarios. Depending on the participants' starting point, this can range from initial joint transnational activities at their home university to entire joint study programmes. The aim is also to discuss ways of integrating joint transnational programmes for higher education didactic training/university pedagogy into existing local offers.
During the masterclass, participants will collect questions, ideas and material in a portfolio and use this to develop their individual action plan.
Applications for the second masterclass are open from 14 October 2025 to 10 December 2025.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Day 1 – 23/03/2026
9:00 Welcome and introductions11:00 Keynote: From national to transnational: Results from EUA’s thematic peer group on transnational staff development12:00 Lunch 13:00 Getting to know the host institution14:15 Group work with peers15:45 Coffee break16:00 Individual reflection: individual portfolio work17:00 Free time19:00 Dinner
Day 2 – 24/03/2026
9:00 Keynote: Examples of transnational staff development in university alliances10:00 Group work12:00 Lunch 13:00 Group activity: Botanical Garden14:00 Keynote: The meaning of culture in transnational programmes15:00 Coffee break15:20 Interim summary with peers: portfolio work16:30 Individual reflection: first draft for a possible action plan based on the portfolio17:00 Free time19:00 Dinner
Day 3 – 25/03/2026
9:00 Panel discussion: perspectives from university leaders on transnational staff development10:30 Group discussion11:30 Coffee break11:45 Individual reflection: finalising the action plan to be tested back home12:45 Closing13:00 Lunch
To ensure high quality interactions and in-depth reflections, each masterclass will gather up to 20 participants. The target audience is senior institutional representatives with responsibilities in developing and organising staff development and enhancing learning and teaching at the institutions (e.g. institutional leadership, directors of learning and teaching centres) from across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). This call is only open to institutions that are EUA members.
The selection will be made according to the following criteria:
If there is high demand, priority will be given to institutions that have not previously participated in another masterclass. There can be only one participant selected per institution per masterclass.
Selected participants must commit to actively taking part in the relevant masterclass and the follow-up online workshop (including writing of the action plan, its implementation or preliminary outcomes).
There is no participation fee for the event. Selected participants will take part on a self-funded basis and will be responsible for organising and covering their own travel and accommodation expenses. STAFF-DEV will cover the costs of joint meals (lunches, coffee breaks, and dinner) during the events. If relevant, participants should liaise with their home university’s international office to enquire about potential support, for instance via staff mobility schemes under the Erasmus+ programme.
To apply, please fill in this application formby 10 December 2025. Applicants will be informed by 19 December 2025 whether their application has been successful.
If you have any questions, please contact raphaele.angoulvent@eua.eu
